Apparatus for developing prints



Oct. 6, 1936. K. MURCK APPARATUS FOR DEVELOPING PRINTS Filed March 27, 1955 Patented Oct. 6, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application March 27, 1935, Serial No. 13,353

5 Claims.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for developing prints.

When prints after exposure are developed by applying a liquid developer to only the exposed surfacethereof, and then causing the developed print to dry, the prints thus obtained are crinkled or curled up. V This crinkling or curling up of the prints is a serious drawback in that it requires further manipulation and handling to render the prints fiat or substantially fiat.

It has been found that this crinkling or curling up of the prints during and after drying is due to the difference in moisture content between the two surfaces of the print. By applying a moistening agent to the back of the print in quantity such as to just about equalize the moisture introduced into the exposed surface of the print by the application of the developer liquid thereto this defect or drawback is eliminated. As the amount of moistening agent which is applied to the unexposed or back surface of the print is very small, the print will dry in a comparatively short time, say a minute or so, when allowed to dry by merely exposing it to room temperature.

Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for developing prints in a quick, simple, and expedient manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for developing prints whereby the finished prints are inherently flat.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for developing prints whereby the prints after having been developed do not curl or crinkle but remain fiat.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for developing prints whereby the developing liquid is appliedto only the exposed surface of the print in quantity substantially sufficient' to effect development and a moistening agent is applied to the back surface of the print in quantity just sufficient to about equalize the moisture introduced into the exposed surface by the application of the developer liquid.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for developing prints which will apply the developing liquid to only the exposed surface of the print in a uniform manner while at the same time applying a moistening agent to the unexposed surface of the print in a uniform manner.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for developing prints which includes means embodying a wick member in contact with a feed roll for applying a moistening agent to the unexposed surface of the print.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for developing prints which includes a wick member in wiping contact with the surface of a feed roll for applying a moistening agent to the unexposed surface of the print.

Anembodiment of an apparatus according to the present invention is illustrated in the accom-- panying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus.

Figure 2 is an end view, taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1. v

Figure 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral l designates the base plate to which is secured a motor 2, the shaft 3 of which is provided on one of its ends with a worm gear 4. The worm gear I meshes with a large worm pinion 5 carried by a shaft 6 which is provided on one of its ends with a coupling member I.

Mounted upon the base plate I and secured thereto in any well known manner are standards or uprights 8 and 9 suitably spaced from each other. A feed roll it! having preferably a rubber surface is mounted on a shaft H having bearings l2 in these standards 8 and 9. The shaft H at one end carries a spur gear I! and at its other end a spur gear H and a flexible coupling memher It which member is connected to the coupling member 1 previously described. A feed roll I 6 also having preferably a rubber surface carried by a shaft I! having spur wheels l8 and 20 at its opposite ends is mounted in superimposed relation to the feed roll 10 in these standards 8 and 9 by means of bearing blocks l8, the spur wheels i9 and 20 meshing with the spur gears l3 and i4 carried by the shaft H of the feed roll l0.

As the-mounting oi' the shafts H and ll of the feed rolls l0 and IS in the standards 8 and 9 is the same, this construction will be described Referring to Figure 2, the bearing block I8 is provided with a projection 22, and slides in vertical ways of the standard 8. Disposed intermediate the upper portion of the bearing I2 and the lower portion of the bearing block I8 is a spring 23 which causes the roll it to yieldingly press against the upper roll it. In order to prevent the bearing block ill from being pushed out upwardly through the open end of the standard 8, the standard 8 is provided with a bridge 26 which carries an adjusting screw 25 threaded in connection with only one of these standards.

therethrough with the lower end of the screw 53 contacting with the projection 22 of the bearing block l8 {carrying the shaft ll.

Supported by the standards 8 and 9 and disposed in such manner as to partially surround the lower portion of the feed roll i0, is a trough' 26 which contains a solution of a developer. The trough 26 is provided with an overflow pipe 21 and a drain pipe 28.

Secured to and supported by the standard 8 is a support 29 for supporting a receptacle 3!] which contains a liquid suitable for use as a moistening agent. The moistening agent may be either an aqueous solution of the developer used for developing the print or water such as distilled water or the like. The mouth of the receptacle or bottle 30 is provided with a valve 3i for regulating the discharge of fluid or liquid into a trough 32 mounted preferably at a point in front of and I adjacent to the feed roll U6. The trough 32 is provided with a drain pipe 34. Suitably secured to the bottom of the trough 32 and extending to and resting uponthe upper peripheral surface of the feed roll it, is a wick member 33. This wick member is in wiping contact with the feed roll it, and delivers the liquid contained in the trough 32 to theperipheral surface of the feed roll id in quantity such that the back surface of the print is given a moisture content substantially corresponding to only the moisture applied to the surface of the print to be developed during the application of the developer liquid to said last-named surface.

To develop a print according to the present invention, the operator places the print to be developed A with its printedsensitized surface downwards upon a feed board 35 mounted in front of the apparatus and then inserts it into the apparatus by pushing it into contact with the rotating rollers i8 and i8. Upon contact with the rotating rollers, the print is drawn in between the rollers. While passing between the rollers, the feed roller ill applies the developer liquid disposed about its periphery to the sensitized surface in quantity substantially just sufficient to effect development and simultaneously the back surface of the print is impregnated with the moistening agent which is contained about the peripheral surface of the upper roller it. The quantity of moistening agent applied to the back surface of the print is just substantially sufficient to equalize the moisture content of the surface to which the developer is applied. The print as it is ejected at the other side of the rollers is almost completely developed and is practically dry. The development is completed in a very short time, for instance a matter of seconds, after ejection, and the print upon being allowed to remain quiescent in the room atmosphere dries in a few minutes without crinkling or curling up.

Itwill thus be apparent that by the present invention it is possible to not only develop prints in a very simple and effective manner, but also produce prints which are flat and remain flat.

aoeasee In addition, this invention is especially effective in the developing of positive diazo type prints.

Having fully described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for developing prints comprising the combination of a pair of frictionally en gaging feed rolls for feeding a print to be developed therebetween, means for supplying a developer liquid to the peripheral surface of one of said rolls, and a separate means for supply-.

ing a moistening agent to the peripheral surface of the other of said rolls.

2. Apparatus for developing prints comprising the combination of a pair of frictionally engaging feed rolls for feeding a print to be developed therebetween, means for supplying a developer liquid to the surface of one of said rolls, and a separate means for conveying a moistening agent solution to the peripheral surface of the other of said rolls, said last-named means comprising a wick member in wiping contact with said other roll.

3. Apparatus for developing prints comprising the combination of a base, spaced standards carried thereon and carrying two frictionally engaging feed rolls, means for rotating said rolls to feed a print to be developed therebetween, a receptacle adapted to contain a developer liquid positioned beneath one of said rolls for supplying developing liquid thereto, a container adapted to contain a moistening agent solution adjacent the other of said rolls, and a separate means for conveying the moistening agent from said container to the surface of said other roll.

4. Apparatus for developing prints comprising the combination of a base, spaced standards carried thereon and carrying two frictionally engaging feed rolls, means for rotating said rolls to feed a print to be developed therebetween, a receptacle adapted to contain a developer liquid positioned beneath one of said rolls for supplying developing liquid thereto, a container adapted to contain a moistening agent solution adjacent the other of said rolls, and a separate means for conveying the moistening agent from said container to the surface of said other roll, said last named means comprising a wick member in wiping contact with said other roll.

5. Apparatus for developing prints comprising two superimposed rolls adapted to rotate and frictionally contact with each other, means for rotating said rolls so as to feed a print to be developed therebetween, a receptacle containing a developer liquid mounted with relation to one of said rolls so that a portion of the peripheral surface of said roll is submerged by said liquid for supplying developer liquid thereto, a source of moistening agent solution, and a wick member extending into said moistening agent solution and wiping against the surface of the other of said rolls for supplying a limited quantity of moistening agent thereto.

* KNUD MURCK. 

